Watermelon
Watermelon
At GCS Seeds, our watermelon seed portfolio is designed to meet the demanding standards of commercial growers targeting the European B2B market. We focus on high-yielding varieties with exceptional fruit quality, robust disease resistance and strong performance under both open-field and protected cultivation.
Key Features
- Botanical name Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus). a vine-crop native to warm climates and extensively cultivated worldwide.
- Fruit characteristics: uniform size and shape. deep-red juicy flesh, high sugar content (Brix) and attractive rind patterns or colours.
- Seed varieties are emphasized for commercial usage. traits such as early to mid-season maturity (~85-100 days), sizable fruits (10-15 kg or more depending on variety) and strong disease resistance packages.
- Suitable for export markets: the right rind firmness and shelf-life to withstand logistics and deliver fresh to end-buyers.
Varieties & Performance Highlights
- Early-maturing hybrids: e.g., a variety matured in about 60-to-70 days in optimal conditions (for certain climates).
- Standard commercial hybrids: many perform in ~85-100 days to maturity under European production windows.
- Fruit shapes: round to elongated; rind colour variants include green with stripes, dark-green or almost black (“premium specialty” types) for niche markets.
- Example of high-performing specification: “Seedless” type, 8-10 kg average, dark-stripe rind, high sugar content and disease resistance for open-field in humid climates.
Agronomic Recommendations
- Soil & climate: Prefers warm conditions, optimal soil pH ~5.7-7.2, well-drained sandy loam, full sun exposure.
- Planting: Transplant or direct‐sow depending on region; maintain vine cover for good fruit protection, especially in early or tunnel cultivation systems.
- Plant density & support: Vigorous vines need space; ensure adequate ground cover, optimum pollination (especially for seedless or hybrid types) and management of fruit load.
- Disease management: Focus on varietal resistance to key watermelon diseases (e.g., Fusarium wilt, anthracnose) and use high‐quality seed lots from trusted suppliers.
- Harvesting & handling: Harvest fruits when rind colour is mature and tendril near the fruit base is dry; ensure gentle handling for export quality.
Why Choose GCS Seeds’ Watermelon Range?
- Proven genetics optimized for yield, fruit quality and market demand.
- Varieties adapted to commercial supply chains, export requirements, and the European B2B market.
- Strong support from seed production through delivery, ensuring uniformity, traceability and performance.
- A commitment to sustainability: efficient land use, high productivity and less input wastage.
For detailed variety sheets, sowing schedules, packaging options and bulk inquiries, please contact our GCS Seeds sales team directly.
